As a new Teacher Librarian who has started working in an information agency: a high school library, I am yet to fully discover my role in providing for all users (students and staff). The initial questions I have are around what services do users need and what can I do to tailor these for my users?
The Australian Library and Information Association suggests that it is essential for professionals in archives, libraries, and records management to be familiar with information organisation, services and access of users (ALIA, 2020). With this, comes the difficulty of promoting resources and services to the unique users that visit information agencies, with some using these and their spaces for wellbeing and other non-information needs (Blessinger, 2002, Harris, 2023). This need to further diversify the traditional services and accessibility of a modern library for modern users is particularly relevant to digital access requirements which is the expectation of younger generations (Turner, 2011) and being accessed increasingly by all generations (Harris, 2023).
Focusing on the digital space and access to their collection online has been imperative to the City of Sydney Archives to support free access (Villata & Smith, 2023). The advent of a user-centred design allowed for greater access in a mode that balanced the needs of users of all kinds whilst maintaining a rigorous archival system (Smith & Villata, 2020). To ensure a quality experience for different users who might skim content, or deep dive into a research, consistent processes such as brief descriptive names on all sources have provided the Google Generation a way to avoid spending much time on a page for a group who have little time to lengthy information (Rowlands, Nicholas and Williams, 2008). Bundaberg Regional Libraries are focusing on the digital literacy of all generations through workshops that vary to cater for all groups including gaming, using mobile phones, 3D printing, and computers to access social services (Harris, 2023). This is driven by the interaction of staff with users and the wider community through discussions with external organisations to identify data on the needs of local users.
Data analysis plays a role with services at Bundaberg Regional Libraries and also the collection development. Harris, has identified the need to keep a collection diverse to reflect the users of the libraries (2023). Similarly, the City of Sydney Archives have made their user interface interactive and meaningful for the users based on data analysis. Villata & Smith identified the prominence for location-based searches and now add geolocation data to the collection of the archives so these can be searched on a map (2023).
In my new role I will prioritise getting to know my users and their needs. Using formal data of past borrowing, frequent search terms, and weeded resources will begin to understand existing patterns. However, a more thorough discussion with teachers and surveys of students will likely help to decide what the future might look like in terms of collection management and services that can be provided.
References
Australian Library and Information Association. (2020). Foundation knowledge, skills and attributes for information professionals working in archives, libraries and records management. Australian Library and Information Association. https://read.alia.org.au/foundation-knowledge-skills-and-attributes-relevant-information-professionals-working-archives-0
Blessinger, K. D. (2002) Problem patrons: all shapes and sizes. In K. Sarkodie-Mensah (Ed.), Helping the difficult library patron: new approaches to examining and resolving a long-standing and ongoing problem (pp. 3-10). Routledge.
Harris, S. (2023, September 11). Bundaberg Regional Libraries virtual study visit [online recording]. ETL512, Interact2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71124_1&content_id=_6040729_1&mode=reset
Rowlands, I., Nicholas, D., & Williams, P. (2008). The Google generation: the information behaviour of the researcher of the future. Aslib Proceedings: New Information Perspectives, 60(4), 290–310.
Smith, M. & Villata, J. (2020). Applying user centred design to archives. Archives and manuscripts, 48(3), 239-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/01576895.2020.1798790
Turner, D. (2011). Breaking down the library walls; responding to the needs of the Google generation. In B. Hull, M. Churkovich, C. Oughtred & D. Turner (Eds.), Understanding libraries: communication is the issue (pp. 139-153). Chandos Publishing
Villata, J. & Smith, M. (2023). City of Sydney (Council) virtual study visit [online recording]. ETL512, Interact 2. https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_71124_1&content_id=_6040729_1&mode=reset
